Download File - Holy Trinity Lara

Do this in
Remembrance of Me!
Extract from
A Communion handbook for the reflective Christian
By
Brain Kyme & Brain Haig
2
God Centred Worship
Goal
Glorifying God by our worship must be our goal, our highest priority. (I Cor. 10:31)
It sounds elementary, but the purpose of our corporate worship service is for our
congregation to worship God.
Entertainment vs. Worship
Worship is done before an audience of One. We are all the participants, and the desire is
that God is pleased with our worship. (Rev. 5:13, Phil 2:10,11) We stand in awe of God, and
then our affections are stirred, not vice versa. (Acts 2:43)
Human worth
Human worth is not diminished by being God-centred. Instead, it is established. That is,
when we focus on God who alone has worth in Himself, and we understand that we are
created in His image, this brings us great worth. (II Samuel 22)
Needs vs. Wants
If we focus on what man truly needs, we must understand that our greatest need is for
God. When we look to God first and do things His way, the outcome will meet the deepest
needs of men. (Matt. 6:33)
Relevance
Certainly our desire is not to be irrelevant, but the truth of God's Word must never be
compromised in the name of so-called relevance.
Sabbath-worship
God commands us in the fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. In the New
Testament, the Sabbath was changed from the 7th day (Saturday) (Exod. 20:8-11) to the 1st
day (Sunday). (See Matt. 28:1, Luke 24:1, John 20:19, Acts 20:7, Rev. 1:10) God has given us
one day in seven to rest from our worldly labours and focus on Him.
Spirit & Truth
God desires worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth. (John 4:24) We must
know the majestic, holy God and our sinfulness in order to worship Him rightly.
3
Do This in Remembrance of Me!
Extracts from A Prayer Book for Australia
and
A Communion handbook for the reflective Christian
by Brain Kyme & Brain Haig
The Holy Communion
SECOND ORDER
GATHERING IN GOD'S NAME
A: THE INTRODUCTION: Getting Ready
A: The Introduction begins the process of laying the right foundation to receive Holy
Communion. In this unit of worship the communicants get ready through self-examination
and cleansing.
1. Hymn
The opening hymn is important because it assists the congregation to develop the
felling of one-ness that is, an awareness of joining together with other like-minded
people to worship God.
2. The Greeting
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
or
From Easter Day to Pentecost
Christ is risen. [Alleluia.]
He is risen indeed. [Alleluia.]
The opening greeting helps to prepare the right foundation for worship by uniting the
priest and congregation in an act of mutual fellowship. If proclaimed with sincerity,
this greeting acknowledges that we come together as God’s family.
3. A Sentence of Scripture
This sentence of scripture is intended to do two things: ‘to lead into worship, and to
indicate something of the content of the readings for the day.
4
4. The Prayer of Preparation
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Despite all our faults and inadequacies, this prayer is a genuine request asking God to
make our worship acceptable. In this prayer we ask God to cleanse our hearts from
anything that may hinder us from being his worthy people.
After praying that God will cleanse our hearts, we continue on to hear some of the
things that will give us a right foundation for worship. The summary of the Law or the
Two Great Commandments.
5. The Two Commandments
'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your
strength.' Jesus said: 'This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it:
you shall love your neighbour as yourself.'
In the communion service, many people see the Two Commandments as summarising
the Ten Commandments. Keeping the two commandments given by Jesus requires
that we give attention to all God’s laws.
6. Lord, have mercy : -Kyrie Eleison
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
The Kyrie eleison is usually thought of as a reminder that we come to worship as
sinners, and that it is only by God’s mercy that we can worship him at all. The Kyrie
elesion dates from the early liturgies in Greek and came down to us by way of the first
English Prayer Book of 1549.
5
7. The Hymn of Praise (Gloria in excelsis)
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God's people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Hymn of Praise (Gloria in excelsis) an essential part of Christian prayer is praise
and adoration. We come before God, praising him for what he is and expressing our
love to him. Through the Gloria we offer joyful praise for his steadfast love. This
Angelic Hymn opens with the words of praise sung by the angels at the birth of Christ.
Luke 2:13-14
B: THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD: Being Assured
B: Having commenced the laying the right foundation, The Ministry of the Word
assures the congregation of God’s continuing love and mercy.
8. The Collect of the Day
The Collect of the Day is used to introduce the scripture readings.
We sit when listening to biblical teaching whether it be in the form of a sermon or a
scripture reading. However it is customary for people to stand for the Gospel.
9. The Old Testament Reading
6
A Psalm (Optional)
The Psalm is often chosen as a reflective response to the First Reading.
10.The New Testament Reading
The Reading from the Old Testament is followed by a passage from the New
Testament except that it cannot be taken from the Gospels.
The Gradual hymn
The purpose of the hymn is to prepare for the Gospel Reading.
11.The Gospel
The Gospel Reading is a focal point in the Ministry of the Word and is never omitted.
12.The Sermon
The scripture readings are followed by a sermon which is often used to explain and
apply the bible passage to daily life. After listening to God’s word in the bible readings
we respond with the affirmation of faith called the Nicene Creed.
13.The Nicene Creed
This creed was first used as a safeguard against the heresy which taught that Jesus
Christ was not one person with both divine and human natures.
C: THE PRAYERS: Interceding
C. With God’s love and mercy firmly assured, the right foundation is strengthened
through The Prayers.
14.The Intercessions
The prayers may be offered by a deacon and/or other members of the congregation.
Periods of silence may be kept.
Intercessions and thanksgivings may end with an appropriate response, for example:
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
The prayers of intercession may then be draw together by the priest inviting the
congregation to join in a communal prayer.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers.
Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may by your grace receive,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
7
D: THE PREPARAION: Drawing Near
D. Having established the right foundation, The Preparation encourages the communicant
to draw near the Lord’s Table with confidence.
15.The Confession
God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy, welcoming sinners and inviting them to
the Lord's table.
Silence may be kept.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, confident in God's forgiveness.
Merciful God,
our maker and our judge,
we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
and in what we have failed to do:
we have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves;
we repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Father, forgive us.
Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Absolution. Standing, the priest says
Almighty God,
who has promised forgiveness to all who turn to him in faith:
pardon you and set you free from all your sins,
strengthen you in all goodness
and keep you in eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Repentance consists in being sorry for our sins, turning away from them and seeking
God’s forgiveness, and turning ourselves in God’s strength to walk in newness of life.”
Sin elevates self
Devalues others
Dethrones God
16.The Greeting of Peace
All stand. The Greeting of Peace is introduced with these or other suitable words.
We are the body of Christ.
His Spirit is with us.
The priest says
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
8
All may exchange a sign of peace.
With the forgiveness of sins comes personal peace. With the forgiveness of others
comes community peace. After the Confession the Greeting of Peace is an expression
that we are a Christian community and therefore are expected to forgive one another.
The Greeting of Peace reminds us that forgiving is part of our Christian life together.
The Greeting of Peace encourages togetherness and leads the congregation to
express their gratitude to God through the offering of gift. This is often done during
the singing of a hymn.
Offertory Hymn
17.The Gifts are offered
The gifts of the people are brought to the Lord's Table. They may be presented in silence or a
suitable prayer, such as follows, may be used.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have these gifts to share.
Accept and use our offerings for your glory
and for the service of your kingdom.
Blessed be God for ever.
In the Holy Communion there are really three offerings: we offer bread and wine and
money to God. These are the fruits of our daily life and we thank God for his gifts in
nature.
E: THE LORD’S SUPPER: Participating
E. Then follows The Thanksgiving in which the congregation offers thanks and praise for all
that God has done for us.
18.The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Thanksgiving opens with an expression of praise to the Lord in recognition of his
glory and honour. Up until now the Service has served as a preparation for the
recognition of Jesus Christ as Lord.
9
Thanksgiving 1
Additional Thanksgivings
Thanksgiving 2page 130
Thanksgiving 3page 133
Thanksgiving 4page 136
Thanksgiving 5page 139
The Great Thanksgiving (Third Order) is found on page 176.
Preface
All glory and honour be yours always and everywhere,
mighty Creator, everliving God.
We give you thanks and praise for our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who by the power of your Spirit was born of Mary
and lived as one of us.
By his death on the cross
and rising to new life,
he offered the one true sacrifice for sin
and obtained an eternal deliverance for his people.
Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
[Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.]
Merciful God, we thank you
for these gifts of your creation,
this bread and wine,
and we pray that by your Word and Holy Spirit,
we who eat and drink them
may be partakers of Christ's body and blood.
On the night he was betrayed Jesus took bread;
and when he had given you thanks
he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
'Take, eat. This is my body given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.'
After supper, he took the cup,
and again giving you thanks
he gave it to his disciples, saying,
10
'Drink from this, all of you.
This is my blood of the new covenant
shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Therefore we do as our Saviour has commanded:
proclaiming his offering of himself
made once for all upon the cross,
his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
and looking for his coming again,
we celebrate, with this bread and this cup,
his one perfect and sufficient sacrifice
Renew us by your Holy Spirit,
unite us in the body of your Son,
and bring us with all your people
into the joy of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with whom, and in whom,
in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
we worship you, Father,
in songs of never-ending praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
are yours for ever and ever. Amen.
The Thanksgiving reminds us of the way Christ offered himself as saviour and
redeemer through his perfect sacrifice. It also states that through this we are freed
from sin and reconciled to God. We can be sure of this one-ness with God because of
Christ was raised from death.
Earlier the bread and wine reminded us of the gifts of creation. But now at this stage
of the Communion Service they recall the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Each time we
celebrate Holy Communion we acknowledge Christ’s sacrifice.
11
19.The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are confident to pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
After the Communion. We pray the family prayer together after we have shared in the
Holy Communion to show that we belong to one another in Christ.
F: THE COMMUNION: Breaking Bread
F. Next comes The Communion where we acknowledge our union with Christ by partaking
of the consecrated bread and wine.
20.Breaking the Bread
The Communion begins with the priest breaking the bread before the people.
The priest breaks the bread. One of the following may be said.
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.]
We who are many are one body,
for we all share in the one bread.
or
As this broken bread was once many grains,
which have been gathered together and made one bread:
so may your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.
Having acknowledge that we are one body in Christ, the next step is to demonstrate
this fact through the sharing the sacrament.
12
21.Receiving Holy Communion
The priest says
The gifts of God for the people of God.]
Come let us take this holy sacrament of the body and blood of Christ in remembrance
that he died for us, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
The sacrament is given with the following words, after which the communicant responds Amen.
The body of Christ [the bread of heaven] keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The blood of Christ [the cup of salvation] keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Christ is present and active, in various ways, in the entire Holy Communion Service. It
is the same Lord who through the proclaimed word invites his people to his table, who
through his minster presides at the table, and who gives himself sacramentally in the
body and blood of his sacrifice.
G: AFTER COMMUNION: Going Out
G. The significance of the Holy Communion does not end by participating in sharing the
broken bread and outpoured wine. The unit of worship called After Communion directs the
congregation to express the participation as an ongoing act of faith lived out in the everyday world.
This concluding part of the Holy Communion service reminds us to go out from the church
and share the love of God with those we meet in our daily lives.
22.A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise
The priest says one of the following or another suitable prayer (see the Seasonal Variations, pages
147-63).
a Gracious God,
we thank you that in this sacrament
you assure us of your goodness and love.
Accept our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving
and help us to grow in love and obedience
that we may serve you in the world
and finally be brought to that table
where all your saints feast with you for ever.
or
b Bountiful God,
at this table you graciously feed us
with the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.
May we who have reached out our hands to receive
this sacrament
13
be strengthened in your service;
we who have sung your praises
tell of your glory and truth in our lives;
we who have seen the greatness of your love
see you face to face in your kingdom
and come to worship you with all your saints for ever.
or
c Living God,
in this holy meal you fill us with new hope.
May the power of your love,
which we have known in word and sacrament,
continue your saving work among us,
give us courage for our pilgrimage,
and bring us to the joys you promise.
or
d Father of all
we give you thanks and praise
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ's body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us in this hope that we have grasped;
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name.
If this prayer is said, ¶ 31 may be omitted.
31 All say together, either
Father,
we offer ourselves to you
as a living sacrifice
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work to your praise and glory.
or
Most loving God,
you send us into the world you love.
Give us grace to go thankfully and with courage
in the power of your Spirit.
14
The above statement of self-dedication sums up the meaning and purpose of Holy
Communion. As Christ followers we dedicate ourselves to live and work to the praise
and glory of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Communion nourishes and strengthens our endeavours to uphold this commitment.
The Notices
Final Hymn
Having declared their intention to live and work to the praise and glory of God, the
priest blesses the people in their endeavours.
23.The Blessings
The priest says this or an appropriate seasonal Blessing.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the
knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among
you and remain with you always. Amen.
24.The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen
The service of Holy Communion concludes with The Dismissal. When we leave the
church building, we do not leave this relationship behind either with God or with our
fellow Christians. We take this peace with us. We remain his friends, his sons and
daughters. And it is our privilege to offer to others the opportunity of sharing in this
most wonderful of all relationships.
© Broughton Publishing, 1995
15
16